The clang of steel echoed through the crisp morning air as Mana Dimension met Kazmir's blade with a sharp ring. His green eyes sparkled with playful determination as he pressed forward, his movements calculated and smooth.
"Is that the best you've got, Ava?" he teased, feinting left before striking toward my shoulder.
I twisted, parrying his attack and countering with a sharp upward swing. The vibration traveled through my arms, but the weight of Mana Dimension felt natural—an extension of myself. "You're getting predictable, Kazmir."
"Predictable? I'm letting you win," he replied with a smirk, though the beads of sweat on his forehead betrayed the effort he was putting into our sparring.
I stepped back, lowering the tip of my blade as the hum of Mana Dimension Sword grew louder. Its runes began to glow faintly as I channeled a sliver of mana into the weapon. "Let's see how you handle this."
The air around us shifted as I activated Mana Drinker, and the faint glow surrounding Kazmir dimmed as the sword siphoned energy. His movements slowed, his strikes losing their usual sharpness. His confident smirk faltered as he stumbled slightly.
"Cheater!" he exclaimed, his steps unsteady. "Are you draining mana or aura?"
"Fair's fair," I replied with a grin, advancing as he struggled to maintain his footing. "You never said I couldn't use its powers."
Kazmir raised his sword, attempting to deflect my next swing, but he was too slow. Before he could counter, I activated Dimension Cutter, and the blade's edge glowed brighter as it sliced cleanly through the air. A shimmering arc of energy surged toward him, splitting the ground between us. He barely managed to dodge, landing on one knee as the energy wave dissipated.
He froze, staring at the faint tear left in the air. "Did you just… cut the air?"
I powered down the sword, the glowing runes fading. "Consider it a demonstration. I was about to imprison you tho." I chuckled at that thought and his divine face frowned.
"A demonstration?" he muttered, shaking his head. "That's not sparring—that's warfare."
Before he could recover, I swept his legs out from under him, sending him sprawling to the ground. His sword clattered to the side as I pointed my sword at his chest.
"Victory," I declared the faint hum of the sword subsiding.
Kazmir groaned, sitting up and brushing dirt off his coat. "Remind me to start drafting rules for sparring with you. Rule one: No magic swords. Rule two: No reality-bending tricks."
I laughed, offering him a hand. "Admit it—you had fun."
"Fun isn't the word I'd use," he said as I pulled him to his feet. He chuckled and picked up my sword, helping me carry it back toward the training halls.
As we walked, he glanced at me, his expression somewhere between teasing and serious. I raised an eyebrow, silently urging him to speak.
"Be ready at 7 o'clock," he finally said. "Not 7:30, not 8:30. Seven sharp. I know you too well, my love. Don't take too much time making yourself 'extra' today. You're already perfect as you are. I'll pick you up at your room."
His words caught me off guard, leaving me dumbfounded for a moment. This man knew my habits better than I realized. Shaking my head in disbelief, I smiled. Over the past weeks, living in his manor, Kazmir had come to understand me in ways I hadn't expected—and, perhaps without realizing it, I had learned much about him too.
As we strolled through the garden, the calm breeze tugged gently at my hair, and I found myself appreciating the serenity. Tonight wasn't just any evening, as the wedding day approached it would mark the beginning of my official role as Duchess, a position that would be formally recognized by the Empire after our wedding. Despite our signed marriage contract, the title still required imperial acknowledgment because Kazmir was a Grand Duke. The weight of that reality hung in the air as we returned to the manor, but for now, I let myself enjoy the peace.
At the stroke of seven, Kazmir knocked on my door. "Ava? Are you ready? Or should I come back later when you've stopped intimidating the mirror?"
As I stood before the mirror, I couldn't help but marvel at the gown Yulia had chosen for me. The lavender fabric seemed to shimmer with every subtle movement, catching the light in a way that reminded me of a clear night sky. The off-shoulder design framed my collarbones delicately, while the intricate silver embroidery wove across the bodice like constellations, each detail glimmering with a life of its own.
Turning slightly, I caught sight of the open back, where a cascade of jeweled chains draped gracefully over my skin, connecting at my shoulders in a design so intricate it felt like wearing art. Tiny gemstones sparkled like stars scattered across the delicate fabric, adding a touch of magic to the already breathtaking gown. The skirt flowed around me in soft layers, light and airy, moving with a whisper as I shifted my weight.
My gaze flickered to the purple rose tucked into my hair—a simple yet elegant touch that Yulia had insisted upon. Somehow, it balanced the regal opulence of the dress, grounding the look in something softer, more personal.
I traced my fingers lightly along the silver embroidery, feeling both nervous and… excited. This was a dress fit for a duchess. Fit for me. But as I adjusted the cascading necklace adorning my back, I couldn't shake the thought, did I truly look the part? Or was this just another mask I was learning to wear?
Adding a final touch to my hair before calling for Yulia to bring the perfume Kazmir had gifted me. She sprayed the delicate fragrance onto the back of my neck, and I froze as the scent enveloped me—a blend of neroli, jasmine, and warm musk.
A sharp pain flashed through my head, and an image flickered in my mind, a hand reaching for me, a voice—soft and familiar calling me "Amira". The memory was gone as quickly as it came, leaving an ache in my chest that I couldn't explain. As if I was hurt emotionally and tears were about to flow on my eyes however I immediately shaked off the feeling of despair or sadness or whatever emotion it is called.
I shook off the unease, draped a shawl over my shoulders, and opened the door. Kazmir stood there, dressed impeccably in a black coat with subtle silver embroidery. His emerald cravat matched his sharp gaze, which lingered on my dress before softening.
"You…" he began, his voice low. "You look stunning."
"Thank you," I replied, managing a faint smile. "You're not so bad yourself."
He held my hand and kissed the back of it. He guided it to his arm for me to hold. As we walk down the staircase, he is still smiling like a proud parent showing off his artwork. The maids and the butler are all standing in line while we descend the stairs. They bowed as we passed through them and greeted us to have a good evening. I smiled at them while Kazmir was smiling from ear to ear as he looked around the staff of his household.
As we rode the carriage, he held my hand once again as if I were to run away from him. Even while wearing his gloves, I can still feel the warmth from his hand and maybe because of all the activities today I felt the drowsiness engulfed me and I leaned my head to Kazmir's shoulder as I fell asleep.
When we reached the place, Kazmir woke me up and helped me fix my hair as it was a bit messed up.
The restaurant perched on the hill was breathtaking. Its glass ceiling reflected starlight, casting an ethereal glow over the room. Candlelit tables were arranged with precision, and the soft strains of a quartet's violins filled the air. Kazmir reserved the entire floor and only we and a few of the servers were there to assist us.
As we danced beneath the stars, the world seemed to blur into the background, leaving only Kazmir and me in the moment. His hand rested lightly on my waist, guiding me effortlessly across the floor.
"Amira," he murmured, his voice dropping to a near-whisper. "I've wanted to say this for a long time."
"When I first met you," he began, "I admired your strength from afar—your sharp wit, your determination. You were like no one I'd ever met. But as I got to know you, I realized you weren't just strong—you were brave. You faced challenges most people would run from, and you did it without losing the part of you that cares deeply for others."
Reaching into his coat, he pulled out a small velvet box. Slowly, he opened it to reveal a delicate ring, the gem catching the candlelight in a prism of colors.
"I love every part of you—who you were, who you are now, and who you will become. Ava Liron, will you spend the rest of our adventures with me? But this time, this is for real."
I stared at him, my chest tight with nervous excitement. "Yes…." I hesitated, a small smile tugging at my lips. "But please extend your patience with me as everything is still new to me. My feelings aren't as deep as yours—not yet. But they're growing."
His smile softened as he slid the ring onto my finger. "For you, I'll wait as long as it takes." He kissed the back of my hand as I looked at the ring with a gem that resembled my eye color as Amira. I smiled thinking that even the smallest details, he knew. He hugged me and kissed my forehead afterward as my condition to him that the kiss on the lips would be on our wedding day.
When dinner was over, Kazmir took my hand, leading me outside the restaurant and where our carriage was. "Let's not end the evening yet," he said with a mischievous smile. "There's something else I want to show you."
The coachman dropped us near the town square, where the lively sounds of the harvest festival filled the air. Lanterns hung between stalls, casting a warm glow over vendors selling spiced cider, roasted nuts, and handmade trinkets. The air was alive with music and laughter, a stark contrast to the quiet elegance of the restaurant.
"This is perfect," I whispered, smiling at the vibrant scene around us.
Kazmir grinned. "I knew you'd like it. A proper date isn't complete without a little adventure."
At one stall, Kazmir eyed a row of stuffed animals. "I could win one of those for you," he declared confidently.
I raised an eyebrow. "Could you? Or would you try and blame the game if you lost?"
"That sounds like a challenge," he said, rolling up his sleeves.
Several attempts later, Kazmir was glaring at a stuffed bear he hadn't managed to win. "This is rigged," he grumbled.
"Or you're just terrible at this," I replied, laughing.
Kazmir eventually pulled me away, though he promised to return and "show that bear who's boss." As we walked, the warm glow of the lanterns, the laughter of the townsfolk, and the gentle weight of his hand in mine made me feel something I hadn't felt in years—contentment.
For the first time in so long, I felt free.
On the carriage ride back, Kazmir leaned back with a sigh. "You know, I had this whole evening planned, but I forgot most of it the moment you walked out in that dress."
"And here I thought knights were supposed to be prepared for battle," I teased.
"Not when the opponent is that distracting," he replied with a grin.
When we arrived at the manor, Hugo, Kazmir's assistant was walking but stopped as soon as he saw us and remained standing by the door, his gaze fixed on me. His expression didn't waver, but the faint furrow in his brow was impossible to miss. He greeted us but he seemed a little off today. He excused himself and continued going outside the manor as it seemed he was about to go home.
Kazmir leaned close as we passed. "Do you think Hugo practices frowning in the mirror? It's impressive."
I bit back a laugh. "Be nice."
Kazmir walked me to my chambers. When we reached my door, his teasing tone softened. "Thank you for tonight, Ava. It meant everything to me."
"Thank you," I replied quietly. "For everything."
As I stepped inside, the warmth of the evening gave way to unease. Hugo's presence lingered in my mind, pulling at memories I couldn't quite grasp. Who was he? And why did his presence feel like a thread pulling me toward something I had lost?